Mouse Models

Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Center

Mecp2tm1.1Jae

Rudolf Jaenisch's mouse model, Mecp2tm1.1Jae , is available through the NIH/NCRR sponsored Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Center (MMRRC) at UC Davis. Interested researchers please visit www.mmrrc.org to open an account. You will also need to fill out a Material Transfer Agreement available at www.mmrrc.org.

Questions should be addressed to a Customer Service Representative at 800.910.2291 (in USA or Canada) or 207.288.6009 (international calls). Historically, wait times at MMRRC have been substantially shorter then Jackson Labs.

B6;129-Mecp2tm1Jae

The MMRRC at UC Davis is proud to announce the acquisition of Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch’s mouse model B6;129-Mecp2tm1Jae. 

This model expresses the 2 loxP "conditional" allele, useful for targeting a cell-specific knockout of Mecp2 when combined with a Cre expressing mouse.

This MMRRC strain, stock number 011918-UCD, will be available as a live colony for requests beginning January 1, 2007. 

We will also be providing cryopreserved embryos and/or sperm, if requested. 

You can register your interest in the strain online at the link below.

As soon as the line is ready for distribution, those who have registered interest will be notified, and orders can be placed via the online Strain Request Form, or by phoning customer service at 1-800-910-2291. 

A Standard MMRRC User MTA is required for requesting stocks. 

If you have any questions about the strain you can contact the MMRRC at UC Davis at mmrrc@ucdavis.edu or phone 1-530-754-8686.

Jackson Laboratories

B6.129P2(C)-Mecp2tm1.1Bird

Adrian Bird's mouse model, B6.129P2(C)-Mecp2tm1.1Bird, model is available through the Jackson Labs. To order please visit jaxmice.jax.org.

Mecp2 308/Y

Dr. Huda Zoghbi's Mecp2 308 mice are currently being colonized at Jackson Labs. You can keep track of the colonization progress by clicking here.

In order for the colony to be sized properly we encourage you to register your interest by clicking here.

Mouse Breeding Tips

Make sure the mother is not disturbed for about 3 days before and 3 days after giving birth (ie strictly no cage changes, no new bedding, no moving the cage around to different positions in the rack). Place a 'Do Not Disturb' notice on the cage.

Change the breeding females regularly, females with symptoms are no use for breeding, so they should be checked regularly and changed when they are not much over 6 months old.

If the MeCP2 het females are small at the time when they'd normally start breeding, don't set them up yet. Try giving them mash (soft food) and give them a week or two to get bigger before trying to breed with them.

Keep a male mouse in the cage with the expecting mother. This seems to be more important for the C57Bl/6 background, but may also help somewhat with other backgrounds as well.

Try to face the cages of breeding pairs so that they can see a light in the room, or if possible, the light of a window.

Just a little handfull of irradiated sunflower seeds when you put on the "do not disturb" sign may help to reduce infanticide.

It seems that the first generations after the gene has been deleted (by crossing with Cre mice) are easier to breed than the later backcross generations. We don't know if this is due to having a mixed strain background (most likely) or fewer generations without Mecp2. To redelete you would need floxed mice and Cre mice.